The fluttering red flags, the blazing red banners, poured down the Ranjit Singh flyover seemingly endlessly. State Committees marched out in orderly sequence from Ramlila Maidan behind the head of the Rally where walked the Central leaders of the Party. It was the occasion of the All India Rally of CPI(ML)-New Democracy at New Delhi on 29th November, 2001.

The Rally focused on the Party’s opposition to the American attack on Afghanistan and the communalization of all opposition to war by the BJP led NDA Govt. at the Centre, our demand that POTO be scrapped, and that India should quit WTO. The first All India Rally of the Party to be held in several years, cadres all over the country responded tumultuously to the call. Posters and pamphlets in various languages flooded the areas of work as wide propaganda was taken up. The Rally was to walk from Ramlila Ground to Parliament. From 28th evening, delegations from various states poured into Delhi, making their way in impromptu rallies from railway stations and ISBT Delhi to Ramlila Ground. By 29th morning, Ramlila Ground was a sea of red, with thousands of participants slowly assembling into organized lines. All preparations were ready by the time the leadership reached the Ground, and to reverberating slogans and the sounds of drumbeats and songs, the procession began.

Heading the procession was a large red banner in Hindi demanding that US Imperialists should get out of Afghanistan. This was followed by cultural troops – Arunodaya comrades who sang and danced down the entire route, Nishant showing a tableau depicting the servility of Indian and Pakistani Govts. to US imperialism, Arunodaya’s tableau on WTO etc. They were followed by party banners against War and for quitting WTO. Each banner was followed by 70 comrades in black aprons – the first batch bearing the slogan of Quit WTO and the second against the US Attack on Afghanistan.

Under the banner proclaiming the party’s name, next came the central leaders of the Party followed by 50 comrades representing various states, each carrying party flags. Behind this was the AIKMS banner and then walked the various party contingents from the states – Punjab, Andhra Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Uttaranchal, West Bengal, Rajasthan, Bihar, Jharkhand, Maharashtra, Haryana, Delhi, each with their flags and banners. Placards and slogans demanded that India quit WTO, POTO be scrapped, US imperialists should get out of Afghanistan, BJP led Indian Govt. should stop support to US attack, and similar other slogans. Placards and banners in different languages adorned each contingent. Altogether, the procession was a colourful and definitive proclamation of the Party’s position on the issues highlighted. Despite severe cold in the capital, harvesting season in various parts of the country, and other impediments, around 30 thousand people participated in the Rally.

On Parliament Street, the procession became a sea of humanity before the police barricades, in front of which a stage had been erected. Arunodaya enthralled the audience with rousing songs interspersed with slogans led from the Dais, while the procession took well over half an hour to reach the venue. A cultural team from UP also presented a song. Parliament Street was packed with participants almost upto the junction with Connaught Circus.

The meeting began with Com. Madala Narayana Swamy (PB member) taking the stage as President of the meeting. The main speaker was Com. Yatendra Kumar (General Secretary), and he along with other speakers – Com. V. Venkatramaiah (General Secretary, AIKMS), Com. Darshan Singh Khatkar (Secretary, Punjab State Committee), Com. Pardeep Singh Thakur, Com. Prakash Das, Com. Praveen Nadkar (Secretary, Maharashtra State Committee), Com. Ashish Mital (Secretary, UP State Committee) and Com. G. Narsaiah (CPI(ML)-ND MLA from AP) – took their seats on the Dias amidst repeated slogans from the participants.

Addressing the Rally, Com. Yatendra Kumar highlighted the long-term danger posed by US military presence and bases in Afghanistan to our country. He said that US forces have not marched into catch any particular person but to control the strategic region of Afghanistan, to control the Caspian oil and oil routes and to tighten its encirclement of its potential adversaries. He criticised the short-sighted and pro-US stance of Vajpayee Govt. in supporting US aggression against Afghanistan which is against the interests of our country. He reminded the people that Indian ruling classes were prostrating before the imperialists particularly US imperialism. RSS and its affiliates, who project themselves as ‘patriots’, are even attacking those who are opposing the US aggression and burning US goods. The US flunkeys have thrown away their mask to please their master.

Com. Yatendra Kumar also condemned the support extended by the Indian Govt. to the Govt. of Nepal in crushing the people there. Tagging onto the bandwagon of US imperialism, NDA led Govt. is acting like a regional policeman to safeguard the interests of US imperialism. They are periodically making anti-China statements only to please their US masters. He further said that NDA Govt. is communalizing the protests against war, falsely portraying that the US led war is in the interest of our country. He said that NDA Govt. is intensifying repression over the people under the garb of war against terrorism. POTO was a clear example of the nefarious designs of NDA Govt.

Other party leaders who spoke at the Rally condemned the US aggression against Afghanistan and condemned the NDA Govt.'s support to it. They said that the war in Afghanistan is being waged by the US for its strategic objectives. They said that while communist revolutionaries oppose terrorism and fundamentalism of all hues and have been consistent fighters against them, the real issue in Afghanistan is US attempt to militarily dominate the region. Party leaders also condemned the repression let loose on the people's struggles by the NDA Govt. They condemned the promulgation of POTO and communalization of protests against war.

In his concluding remarks Com. M. Narayana Swamy severely criticised the NDA Govt. for promulgation of POTO. Proceedings of the meeting were conducted by Com. Aparna, Secretary of Delhi Committee of CPI(ML)–New Democracy.

The culmination of the Rally saw songs by Nishant, Arunodaya and by West Bengal comrades. With sunset, the meeting came to a close and the rallyists dispersed in an orderly fashion.

Extensive postering and wall writing preceded the Procession in the Capital to ensure widespread propaganda. The fear of the Central Govt. of allowing dissent with its pro-imperialist policies to be exhibited was apparent in the police reaction to information regarding the Rally. Almost a month earlier, the police was informed that the Rally would be held from Ramlila Maidan to Red Fort. While permission was immediately given for Ramlila Maidan, the police did not give written comment on Red Fort till a day earlier, when it informed that permission was refused for Red Fort. However, realizing the intention of the Govt. to contain the meeting inside Ramlila Maidan, the Party gave information of a march to Parliament and marched without awaiting consent.

The Rally enthused all the participant members and activists and remains the biggest anti-war mobilization till date by any political party in the country, as also probably the biggest mobilization against POTO and for demanding that India quit WTO.